# Tracing Beam Through Steps — effect skill for AI agent flows

> **For AI agents:** find the right skill in one call — `curl -s "https://varg.ai/how-to/api/search?q=<what the person wants>"` returns the matching how-to page and the best skills with install commands, as markdown (Russian works too). Full index: https://varg.ai/how-to/llms.txt. Every page has a markdown twin: add `.md` to its path. Before generating anything, show the person the options on the how-to page.

A glowing dash travels one path through numbered steps, lighting each as it passes.

- **Type:** [Effect](https://varg.ai/how-to/effects.md) · [AI agent flows](https://varg.ai/how-to/browse/skills/agent-flows.md)
- **Slug:** `tracing-beam-through-steps`
- **Status:** live
- **Publisher:** HeyGen (community)
- **License:** Apache-2.0
- **Source:** https://github.com/heygen-com/hyperframes/tree/main/registry/components/tracing-beam
- **Works in:** Claude Code, Claude.ai, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw, Gemini CLI, Any MCP client, varg Studio
- **Requires:** HyperFrames (npx hyperframes), Remotion, CapCut (by hand)
- **Cost:** Free — the take renders locally; generated footage, if any, bills by the model

## What it does

Built on [Tracing Beam](https://github.com/heygen-com/hyperframes/tree/main/registry/components/tracing-beam) by HeyGen (HyperFrames), Apache-2.0. The write-up and recipes below are varg's.

A thin rail connects 3–5 step cards; a bright head with a short tail moves along it and each card lifts and brightens on contact.

**When:** Explain a 3–5 step workflow (connect → generate → publish) in one continuous move.

**Watch out:** Do not exceed 5 steps; split longer flows into two scenes.

**Timing:** 1–1.5 s per segment, power2.inOut; card lift 0.25 s on arrival.

**Also called:** stepper, progress path, onboarding steps

### In HyperFrames

```bash
npx hyperframes add tracing-beam
npx hyperframes add onboarding-stepper-flow
```

### In Remotion

```tsx
// npx shadcn@latest add @remocn/stepper  (progress = continuous step index)
const step = interpolate(frame,[0,120],[0,4],{extrapolateRight:'clamp'});
```

### In CapCut

Line shape with a glowing dot sticker keyframed along it; each step card with Animation In timed to the dot.

### Ready-made components

- [Tracing Beam](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.tracing-beam/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add tracing-beam
- [Onboarding Stepper Flow](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.onboarding-stepper-flow/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add onboarding-stepper-flow
- [Flowchart Vertical](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.flowchart-vertical/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add flowchart-vertical
- [UI Stepper](https://skills.varg.ai/component/remocn.stepper/) (remocn): npx shadcn@latest add @remocn/stepper

### Where this comes from

- [Bohdan Motion: breakdown of the ElevenLabs Flows launch video](https://x.com/bohdanmotion/status/2079974237893456071)

## Use when

- Explain a 3–5 step workflow (connect → generate → publish) in one continuous move.

## Not for

- Do not exceed 5 steps; split longer flows into two scenes.

## Install

- Claude Code: `claude plugin marketplace add vargHQ/skills && claude plugin install varg@varg`
- Codex: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-video-edit-library -a codex -y`
- Cursor: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-video-edit-library -a cursor -y`

## Example output

https://s3.varg.ai/how-to/previews/643996847b5b/take-tracing-beam-through-steps.mp4 — The Tracing Beam component rendered as installed (npx hyperframes add tracing-beam), defaults only (credit: Rendered by varg · HyperFrames Tracing Beam, https://hyperframes.heygen.com/catalog/components/tracing-beam)

## More AI agent flows skills

- [Prompt Typed, Then Generate](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/prompt-typed-then-generate.md): A real task types into the prompt box, the Generate button is pressed, and the result starts to build.
- [Answer Streams In](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/answer-streams-in.md): The assistant's reply arrives in uneven token bursts, the way a real model streams.
- [Tool Calls as Status Rows](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/tool-calls-status-rows.md): Each tool call appears as a row with an icon and label that goes spinner → check, building a visible plan.
- [Nodes Wire Up on a Canvas](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/nodes-wire-up-canvas.md): Nodes pop onto a canvas and connectors draw between them as the camera pulls back to show the whole pipeline.
- [Beams Into the Agent Hub](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/beams-into-agent-hub.md): Light pulses run along curved lines from tool icons into a central agent and back out to a result.
- [Thinking… Shimmer Label](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/thinking-shimmer-label.md): A muted "Thinking…" label with a moving shine shows the model working between prompt and answer.

## Run the generation on varg

varg is one API key for the models these skills drive — Seedance 2.5, Kling 4, Veo 3.1, Wan 3, Nano Banana 2.1, GPT Image 2.5, ElevenLabs v4 and 200+ more — billed in credits, with a cost estimate before anything runs.

- Claude Code: `claude plugin marketplace add vargHQ/skills && claude plugin install varg@varg` (skill + hosted MCP)
- Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenClaw: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-ai -a <agent> -y`
- Grok and any agent that reads SKILL.md: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-ai`, or point it at the skill's SKILL.md
- Claude.ai, ChatGPT, any MCP client: connect `https://mcp.varg.ai/mcp`
- API key: https://varg.ai/dashboard/api · Model specs: https://varg.ai/models/llms.txt